You see...it's just sucked!
Their is something big going on that I haven't blogged about. Part because I've been busy, partly because I'm scared, but mostly because I've just been hoping that if I ignore it long enough it will go away.
It's Murdock.
He's sick. Not just sick...he's been sick before. But like sick, sick!
Before Jordyn was born we noticed a large bump under his right eye. We let it go for a while, thinking it would heal on it's own. Since then, we have been to Dr. Dotz three times. Although unsure what it was, he was pretty convinced it would open, drain, and heal on it's own. Now, almost two months later Murdock has probably a hundred bumps all over his body. They are under the skin, but eventually break open. He has lots of other symptoms too. Increased temp, heart rate, sleep, urination, and thick drooling. Decreased appetite [like none at all] and activity. He's sleeping approximately 23 1/2 hours a day and struggles to get onto our bed or into the back of the SUV. He's just plain sick and not himself. This week he stopped opening his mouth altogether. In the past two months, he's lost about 18 pounds; this morning he weighed 88lbs. :(
So...our vet recommended we bring him to the Iowa State University where they specialize in Vet Med to have the specialists look at him. Yesterday we spend 7 hours in the Dermatology Department where they tested blood and urine samples and took x-rays. His x-rays looked great. They heard a slight heart murmur and the blood work had some areas they wanted to pursue, but nothing that said what the specific problem is.
So...they had us come back to the hospital today. I had to have Murdock in here at 7:30 am for an echogram to check out his heart and the valves around it. The echo looked great, allowing them to put him under anesthesia for a few biopsies. They placed his IV Catheter and Tracheal Tube, but they weren't able to open his mouth far enough for a biopsy. We're all unsure why his mouth is unable to open and how it is related to the nodules at this point. They did however get a biopsy from other areas. The bacterial portion of the biopsy should be in Monday. The fungal portion will take about two weeks. Until then we're headed home with pain medication to hopefully take the edge off enough so he can eat. If he hasn't eaten by tomorrow, Dr. Foster will call in a script for depression [to increase appetite...hopefully!].
At this point we have no answers. We've set a financial limit and already went well over just to start finding the problem. We haven't even discussed treatment options at this point. Dr. Dotz wasn't kidding when he told us to plan for thousands. We're really at a loss over what to do. He is practically our first child and we've had him for 3 years. He is honestly the best dog I know; he's kind, loving, and gentle. It makes me sad to think Jordyn may never know him. One the other hand we've already spent more in testing than we did for all of our medical bills having Jordyn [and I thought that was a lot...ha!] We're just not sure where to draw the line. It's easy to say you would do anything for your pet, but when it comes down to it, how far can you really go? This month is hitting us pretty hard with Murdocks many vet bills, Jordyn's hospital bills, Christmas, and me on maternity leave. Let's just hope this isn't a glimpse of how 2012 is going to go...
We love you Murdock...feel better soon...we miss you! Mama, Dad, & Little Sis
